Theon
I was in the store on Friday, finishing up some product orders when my cell phone started ringing. I frowned when I saw Samantha's picture on the screen and didn't take long to answer it.
" Sam, is there a problem?”
" Theon I need your help," her voice came in a whisper and I heard her close a door.
Worry washed over me as the countless possibilities flashed through my mind.
" It's nothing to do with the baby or me," she soothed me, as if she could guess what I was thinking, "but…”
" Samantha, what happened? " I moved restlessly around the office.
" Your grandmother is in my office with a suitcase and two tickets to Vegas! " she lowered her voice even more " she forbade me to tell your family, and as much as I don't mind keeping her company, I don't want to travel alone with a crazy old woman!”
Trip to Vegas!? What is my grandmother planning?
" She's determined to go, I was wondering if you could come with us," she continued.
" She just showed up with her bags packed? " I took a deep breath, wondering how to handle that.
" And with tickets for a flight leaving in three hours," she explained and called, "Theon, I don't want to travel with your grandmother, but she seems to be determined to go alone if I don't accompany her.”
" I'll... I'll call you back, wait for me," I ordered, sitting back in my chair.
What is this now? She decided to go on a trip at the drop of a hat! What can I do without drawing my grandmother's wrath on Samantha?
I stood up next, deciding to go over there and see what could be done. I am not even sure that Sam can still get on a plane, she is almost seven months pregnant!
I thought carefully about how I should act as I drove to my son's mother's house. As soon as I got out of the car, I walked along the sidewalk freshly covered by the snow that had fallen earlier and went to her porch. Pancake started barking as soon as she heard the doorbell.
" What's all the noise, dog? It better not be Laffay, girl. He'll get in our way " I heard my grandmother's voice approaching the door.
He'll get in our way! Really? What does she think I'll do then?
" Theon! What are you doing here? " she scowled at me.
" Me? Aren't you tired of bothering Sam yet? " I decided to pretend not to know about her plans.
She was about to answer me when I spotted Samantha at the top of the stairs, struggling to get down with a suitcase.
She shouldn't do that!
" Sam, I'll help you! " I sidestepped my grandmother to reach her.
I grabbed the suitcase from her hand and climbed down, locating my grandmother's luggage in the living room. How could my mother not notice that she left with a suitcase that size?
" What is going on here? " I crossed my arms, alternating my gaze between the two after putting Samantha's bag on the floor.
" Your grandmother is taking me for a weekend in Vegas, isn't that fun, Apollo? " she followed my lead, giving me an anxious look before my grandmother could answer.
" Why did you tell him? Now we have to take him," she complained.
I would have found that situation amusing if I hadn't noticed my grandmother's determined look.
" γιαγιά, why do you want to go to Vegas? " I tried another approach.
" My business is my business, Theon. I don't have to explain anything," she became defensive, surprising me.
" You need to explain when you decide to drag the mother of my son along," I returned, receiving only a frown in return.
Samantha is right, she is determined to go. My gaze searched hers, and I saw that she had thought the same as me.
" Samantha, can you get me a ticket? I'll pack my bag," I asked.
" And don't try to warn your mother, if you try to stop me, I'll run away and go alone! " she threatened.
" I'll get the ticket," Samantha sighed.
I went home, threw some clothes into a backpack and in a few minutes I was driving back to Samantha's house.
What is my grandmother up to here? Is she being affected by age? I doubt she just wants to gamble in some casinos. As I parked in front of the house I saw Samantha standing on the porch next to my grandmother holding the pancake.
Will we take the dog too?
I went out to get the bags for both of them, and Samantha quickly came toward me with the dog in her arms.
" Apollo, do you think your mother can take care of the pancake? I tried to reach Mike, but he's not answering his cell phone and my parents are out of town this weekend," she explained.
" Sure, she can." I felt uncomfortable with this information.
Mike was her first choice to solve a problem? Why didn't she speak directly to me? Are they already that close?
" Let's get on with it or we'll miss our flight," my grandmother murmured, drawing me out of my thoughts.
She was right about that, and I packed both of our bags into the car and headed for my mother's house, listening to my grandmother's various recommendations not to reveal our plan or she would ruin everything.
" Theon, don't forget…”
" I won't say anything, γιαγιά. Rest assured," I promised, getting out of the car with the pancake.
The dog barked in protest as he noticed Samantha lagging behind. I thought about what I could say to my mother to justify the situation. Of course I would call to reassure her later, but she would not let my grandmother go without any explanation. And that would only serve to irritate Delphine.
" Mama," I called out to her as I saw her in the snow-covered garden.
" Theon, what are you doing here? " She smiled as she came toward me. " Who is this?”
She stroked the pancake's head. How did my grandmother manage to leave the house without her noticing?
" This is the pancake. He's Samantha's, can you take care of him for two days? " I asked, hoping she wouldn't ask any questions.
" For what reason? Is she okay? " My mother frowned, taking it from me.
Of course she wouldn't make it easy for me, would she?
" It's nothing, she just has to travel for two days to Vegas," I explained.
" And why don't you take care of him?”
She walked past me to put him on the floor, he quickly ran to get acquainted with his new surroundings, leaving us there.
" I'm going with her," I tried to deflect.
" And why are you going with her? " My mother crossed her arms, raising one eyebrow.
" Mom, I'm late, I have to go out, can you take care of him? " I sighed.
" Something's wrong," she insisted.
" No, it isn't! " I defended myself.
" Honey, you can't lie to me," she sighed, "When you chipped my windshield, I knew it. When you threw that party on our trip, I knew it. The only thing I didn't know.... DON'T TELL ME YOU GOT ANOTHER GIRL PREGNANT?
" What? NO! " I exclaimed, "Mom, Samantha was the only girl I ever got pregnant with!”
" Then what's going on? " she insisted.
" Mama, I'll tell you later, but right now I have to go," I said goodbye before leaving the house, leaving her behind with a suspicious expression.
I hurried to the car where Samantha seemed to have her patience on edge.
" You took too long," my grandmother complained.
" I had to make up a story to get her to take the dog," I muttered as I maneuvered the car.
Our trip was smooth, we arrived at the airport in time to board and face the three hours flight to Vegas. My grandmother preferred to sit in another row, letting Samantha and I keep each other company during the trip.
" So, you and Laffay, is it serious? " I asked nonchalantly after a few minutes of flying, deciding to satisfy my curiosity on the subject.
" I don't know yet, we're getting closer," she shrugged, "he slept over the weekend, and well, that was kind of a step forward, but we haven't decided anything yet.”
" What do you mean?”
" I'm not saying he's my boyfriend or anything," she explained, "although he often seems to ask me to make a decision, I still think it's too soon.”
I absorbed this information wondering what it could mean, Samantha had previously seemed determined to have a relationship with him.
" Didn't you say that to get involved with someone now it would have to be something serious?
" Well, yes," she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "I owe him a little constancy, you know. But…”
" But?””
" How can I know that Mike is the one? " she blurted out, "He's a nice guy and I feel good about him, but how do I know we're going to work out at this point? What if in the end Henry gets attached to him only to see him go? He has no responsibility to our son, unlike you!”
I absorbed his words and could understand her fears. Yes, it will be complicated to put someone so close to our child without having any certainty, even with Harper, who I was completely sure would last, it didn't! What if it had happened later? How much would he suffer?
" I like him, but I have this fear. I think it's different when you already have a solid relationship," she sighed looking out the window.
" It's not that different," I admitted, thinking about everything that had happened since last Saturday, when Harper and I broke up.
" I heard about you and Harper. I'm sorry," she sighed, turning her attention back to me.
" Thank you," I forced a smile, not knowing if this was the right moment to bring it up.
" What happened? You two looked so good.”
I watched a flight attendant who passed us before following her gaze to where my grandmother was sitting comfortably, wondering what I should answer.
" We were on different pages, I guess," I admitted. "She's a great person and I'm very grateful to her for everything, but I guess in the end it wasn't meant to be.”
Samantha absorbed my words, remaining silent for a few moments.
" This whole thing is a confusing mess, isn't it? " she sighed.
" Yes, sometimes I catch myself thinking about how things would have been if I hadn't insisted on this relationship with Harper from the beginning," I admitted, "I think everything could have been different.
" Yeah, but nothing guarantees that it would have been good," she looked down at her hands, "things happen the way they're supposed to and we can't change the past, so thinking about it is a waste of time.”
I absorbed her words, understanding their meaning. "waste of time." She was fine with Laffay in spite of everything, and she didn't seem willing to change that. And in a way she was right, we barely knew each other and maybe if we had tried a relationship just for the sake of the baby at the time it would have turned out to be a mistake. A big mistake.
" Do you mind if I try to get some sleep? It's been a tiring day," she asked, watching me.
" Rest, Samantha," I leaned over and kissed her forehead, taking her by surprise with this gesture.
Even if the two of us weren't going to be together, I still loved her and would do anything to see her happy. Even if this meant accepting her involvement with Mike.
As soon as we landed in Vegas, I went after the bags while she kept my grandmother company, who was more agitated than usual. Delphine seemed anxious about something, I just didn't know what.
" Do you have any plans now, γιαγιά? " I questioned after we managed to rent the car.
" I got a room at the Paris Las Vegas," she shrugged before checking the time, "Let's get on with it, we can't be late…”
" Late for what, old woman? " Samantha looked tired.
" I have an appointment at eight o'clock " she explained calmly while I drove to the hotel.
Appointment? What kind of appointment would she have in Vegas? What had she been up to?
" I swear, if you don't let me get some rest. " Samantha murmured.
" You can rest Samantha, we have two hours until eight, take a shower, then we can have dinner, and…”
" Let's have dinner after the appointment " Delphine decided.
" If you think I'm going to wait until who knows what time to eat, you're very wrong you crazy old woman, it's not enough that you took me out of the house for this madness! " Samantha began to fuss beside me.
We were interrupted by the ringing of my cell phone. My sister's picture appeared on the screen, and I could imagine the reason for the contact.
" Callie…”
" Theon, where have you been? " she questioned worriedly, "It doesn't matter, have you seen γιαγιά today?”
" Tell her at once what the γιαγιά of you got us into " Samantha rolled her eyes beside me.
" Ohhh, Hi Samantha.... What's going on?”
" I'm fine, no need to worry " my grandmother declared.
" γιαγιά, where are you?”
" Do you really want to know, we are in Vegas " Samantha snorted " and your grandmother is trying to drive me crazy and starve me to death!”
" So dramatic " she rolled her eyes.
" What's going on? " Callie took a deep breath " What are you doing in Vegas?”
" Your grandmother decided to run away and made me come with her " Samantha explained " So I made Theon accompany me.”
" Callie, we're all fine, don't worry and tell mommy " I asked " I'll explain it to you later. Preferably when I understand what we're doing here.”
" All right," she sighed before hanging up.
" γιαγιά, will you tell us what this appointment is? " I questioned before Samantha started to get worked up again.
" When the time is right," she decided.
She decided not to say anything else until we reached the hotel that had a replica of the Eiffel Tower in front of it, where a porter quickly took care of our bags while we followed behind the room.
" Now you're going to let me rest a bit, aren't you old lady? " Samantha teased her after we got two rooms for the weekend.
I smiled as I watched them interact, it was hard for my grandmother to get attached to anyone, and although I saw them constantly fighting, I knew that my grandmother liked Samantha, if she didn't she would ignore her as she did with so many people.
" Delphine? " Samantha frowned as she didn't get an answer.
In fact it seemed that we had both disappeared for my grandmother, her gaze took on a brightness that I had not seen for a long time, and a smile appeared on her lips before she hurried as fast as she could with her cane, leaving us behind.
My gaze searched for the source of that change in behavior, finding old Yanis Vardalos also coming toward them with a similar expression to his. I stopped walking when they met, widening my eyes slightly in surprise.
" Apollo, who is that old man kissing your grandmother? " Samantha whispered as she stood beside me.
What's going on? I always knew that the two of them had been in contact since he came from Greece last year, but...
" Hey old lady, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend? " Samantha walked over to the old couple.
I started to move, following her to hear my grandmother's explanation. This was a scene I never expected to see.
" Theon, it's good to see you. You must be Samantha," Yanis greeted us.
" We have to get ready," my grandmother warned, "We don't have much time.”
" What exactly are we getting ready for? " I questioned a little fearfully.
" For our wedding," the old man smiled, holding my grandmother's hand.
I blinked in astonishment as Samantha began to laugh beside me.
" I knew you were a crazy old woman, but to the point of running away to get married in Vegas? " she walked towards my grandmother, "Come on old lady, I'll help you get ready…”
The two walked away followed by the old man leaving me behind.
My grandmother ran away to get married in Vegas... A small smile came to my face at this realization. My family is really unique.